DNS lookup
DNS lookup for any domain: see its IP addresses, mail servers, name servers, TXT and other records.
Queries go to Cloudflare’s public DNS over HTTPS service when you press the button.
About the dns lookup
DNS lookup for any domain: see its IP addresses, mail servers, name servers, TXT and other records.
Part of SmartCalcy’s data & networking tools. It runs in your browser with no account, uses your own currency and units (change them at the top of the page), and gives estimates for information only, so check official guidance before you rely on a result.
How to use the dns lookup
What it calculates and when to use it
Looks up the DNS records of a domain name: its IPv4 and IPv6 addresses (A and AAAA), mail servers (MX), name servers (NS), text records (TXT), aliases (CNAME), zone details (SOA) and certificate rules (CAA). Use it to check that a domain points where you expect, or to debug email and website set-up.
How to use it, step by step
- Type a domain name such as example.com.
- Choose a record type, or keep “All common records”.
- Press “Look up DNS”.
- Read each record card. TTL is how many seconds the answer may be cached.
What each input means
- Domain name – The domain to look up. Web addresses are cleaned to the domain, so https://example.com/page also works.
- Record type – One record type, or all the common ones.
How to read the results
- A and AAAA – The IPv4 and IPv6 addresses the name points to.
- MX – Mail servers, with a priority number. Lower numbers are tried first.
- NS, TXT, CNAME, SOA, CAA – Name servers, text records such as SPF, aliases, zone authority and which certificate authorities may issue certificates.
The formula
No calculation. The browser asks Cloudflare’s public DNS over HTTPS service for each record type and shows the answers it gets. TTL is the time in seconds that resolvers may cache an answer.
A worked example
A lookup of example.com returns an A record with an IPv4 address, MX records for mail, and TXT records including its SPF policy.
Assumptions and limits
- Answers come from a public resolver and may be cached for up to the TTL, so a change made a few minutes ago may not show yet.
- The lookup is made when you press the button.
- Only the common record types are offered.
Common mistakes
- Typing a full web address with a path and expecting records for the page. DNS works on domain names only.
- Expecting a change to show immediately. Caches hold old answers until the TTL runs out.
- Looking up a subdomain you have not created, which returns no records.
Frequently asked questions
What is a DNS record?
An entry that tells the internet something about a domain, such as which server hosts its website or handles its email.
What does TTL mean?
Time to live, in seconds. It is how long other servers may reuse an answer before asking again.
Why are there several MX records?
They give backup mail servers. The one with the lowest priority number is tried first.
What does NXDOMAIN mean?
The domain does not exist, so check the spelling.
Can I look up an MX record only?
Yes. Choose MX in the record type list.